What to do in the Basque Country Agenda January 2018

Traditions, Art, Music, Events & Exhibitions Agenda January 2018 in Basque Country.


A small list of best events for the traveler in January 2018 in the Basque Country in Spain & France, Rioja & Cantabria selected by your Basque private tour guide.

San Sebastian. Drum Festival. January 20th.

Regarding traditions and festivities:


  • In Bilbao. GABONART. XXXV Christmas Crafts Fair. Exhibition and sale of handicraft products. From December 15th to January 5th.
  • In Vitoria-Gasteiz, Bilbao and San Sebastian. Cavalcade of Kings. January 5th and 6th.
  • In Vitoria-Gasteiz. Belen Monumental. Popular tradition since 1962. Composed of more than 200 human figures, buildings and hundreds of animals and accessories. Florida Park. From December 2nd until January 6th.
  • In Vitoria-Gasteiz. Crafts Fair. Plaza de Jesus Guridi. From December 14, 2017 to January 6th, 2018.
  • In Laguardia. Articulated Bethlehem. Church of Santa María de los Reyes. One of the few baroque nativity scenes equipped with movement that are preserved today, and arouses great interest among visitors and residents of the area. Four performances are offered on December 25, January 1st and February 6th and 7th, all at 1:00 pm. The last of these will revolve around the flight to Egypt.
  • In Barakaldo, Vitoria-Gasteiz, Irún and San Sebastian. Children's Christmas Park. Wide range of activities to enjoy in family, especially for the children of the house. Bilbao Exhibition Center (December 21st - January 8th). BAKH of Vitoria-Gasteiz (December 23rd to January 4th). Kursaal San Sebastian (December 22nd - January 4th). FICOBA Irun (from December 26th until January 4th).
  • In Getaria. Presentation of the new txakoli wines. You can taste this Basque white wine together with tuna, anchovies and involved in the Basque atmosphere through local music, and Basque sports (herri kirolak). On 17th January.
  • In San Sebastian, Tafalla and Azpeitia, not to miss this as it is the most popular festivity of San Sebastian, the Drum festival "Danborrada". The city is filled with drums, barrels, parades, colour, music & food! in honour to the local saint (Surprise!, the local saint of San Sebastian is Saint Sebastian). A true local festival loved by locals and only enjoyed by locals as the best part happens during the night of 19th January (starting at 8pm and with the raise of the local flag on the midnight of 19th to 20th that will wave in the Constitution Square until the midnight of 20th to 21st). 19th and 20th January
  • In Mungia and Amurrio. San Antón Fair. Morcillas and Chorizos Contest, ball games. and sale of products of the hamlet, kitchen utensils, trees and plants of all kinds. From January 17th to 22nd.
  • In Laguardia, Rioja Alavesa. A bonus representation of the unusual Barroque nativity scene with movement that they normally perform on Christmas. On Saturday 24th January at 6:30pm.
  • In Ituren and Zubieta (Navarre). One of the most interesting local festivals takes place with the Zanpantzar announcing carnival time. On January 29th and 30th.
  • In Laudio/Llodio. San Blas Festival. Exhibition and sale of agricultural and artisan products, rural sports, elaboration of blood sausages, dance and music shows, a tribute to the baserritarras of the area, tasting of chestnuts, burning and scraping the pig, .. and Txarripatas Gastronomic Contest ( pig hands). From January 28th until Febrary 3rd.

Regarding arts and exhibits:


  • In Bilbao. ROLLS-ROYCE - A century of style. Euskalduna Palace. Selection of Rolls-Royce cars belonging to the Miguel de la Vía collection - Loizaga Tower. From December 15th to January 7th.
  • In San Sebastian. Russian Classical Ballet: "Sleeping Beauty". Kursaal Centre. January 12nd.
  • In Bilbao. Anni Albers: Touch the view. Known especially for its pioneering role in textile art or fiber art, for its innovations in the treatment of the wefts and its permanent search for motifs and fabric functions. Guggenheim Museum. October 6th until January 14th.
  • In Bilbao. Opera: Manon. Euskalduna Place. January 20th until 29th.
  • In Getaria. Rachel L. Mellon Collection. Cristobal Balenciaga Museum. Until January 25th, 2018.
  • In Bilbao. "David Hockney. Pictures". This exhibition presents portraits of realized with a renewed creative vigor in the last two years. Guggenheim Museum. From November 10th until Febrary 25th, 2018.
  • In Bilbao. Art and space. It includes works by Eduardo Chillida, Olafur Eliasson, Lucio Fontana, Sue Fuller, Robert Gober, Eva Hesse, Cristina Iglesias, Prudencio Irazabal, Agnieszka Kurant, Sol LeWitt, Richard Long, Anna Maria Maiolino, Asier Mendizabal, Bruce Nauman, Iván Navarro, Damián Ortega, Jorge Oteiza, Pablo Palazuelo, Nobuo Sekine, Susana Solano and Lee Ufan, among others. Guggenheim Museum. From December 5th 2017 until April 8th 2018.


Regarding sport:


  • In Saint Jean de Luz. Masters Cesta punta. Jai Alai Center. January 2nd. 5 p.m.
 And remember, if you are thinking to come to Bilbao, San Sebastian, Rioja, Vitoria, Pamplona or anywhere else in the Basque Country, you can get a better understading on our culture and traditions with a local guide. 

 contact Aitor Delgado Basque Private Tour Guide 




Enjoy the Basque Country!